Public infrastructure is in serious neglect, though, and to set an example of this disconnect between reality and fantasy, a group of Portland anarchists has established a group which fixes potholes in public roads without notifying the government, and without using public taxes.

“Because we believe in building community solutions to the issues we face, outside of the state.
Because society portrays anarchists as only breaking windows and blocking roads.
Because when faced with anarchism as a political theory, states often ask ‘But who will fix the roads?’
Because the city of Portland refuses to adequately repair roads in a timely manner.
We are Portland Anarchist Road Care. We believe in community oriented direct action. We believe the state cares more about funding a militarized police force to suppress free speech than caring for and repairing the roads.

The city of Portland has shown gross negligence in its inadequate preventative care through this winter’s storms, and through its slow repair of potholes as weather has improved. Daily, this negligence is an active danger to cyclists and causes damage to people’s automobiles, and an increased risk of collision and bodily injury.

Portland Anarchist Road Care aims to mobilize crews throughout our city, in our neighborhoods, to patch our streets, build community, and continue to find solutions to community problems outside of the state.” [Source]

Declaring itself as a political organization, the group considers this type of basic road repair by members of the local community to be a political action, highlighting the fact that we live in a time where the state has taken over many areas of shared society which have historically been managed by members of the community.

“PARC takes the state of the roads of PDX into the hands of the people. State neglect has caused the streets to fall into disrepair. We will fix the streets.” [Source]

The state inserts itself into every mundane and communal area of life, so it will be interesting see how the government handles citizens doing basic work such as this. Will Portland treat this group as many cities are treating groups who feed the homeless? Will the government outlaw fixing potholes by saying that it is not safe for people other than government to do such work? Will they call it vandalism? Will the people who are doing this be arrested for taking matters in to their own hands?

Anarchism is the idea that people can create and maintain societies without the presence of organized, bureaucratic government. What do you think, is this possible in our world today?

I know some people whose road got washed out on a river bend. Then the gov found Indian artifacts on the site so they had to excavate the whole thing. In the meantime they refused to fix the road, and the alternate was like 10 or 20 miles up some absurd path out of the way. So they went out, with masks, and picks and shovels, and fixed the road, all while being observed by gov workers from across the river.

Brian

All without a 27B-6! We miss you Tuttle. Someone below comments that anarchism is for little groups only. Well, it begins with this sort of inchworm progress towards autonomy. What’s the alternative? Having the pan-galactic government pour your ketchup?

thinkerman

Anarchism? Romantic idealism. Anarchism is not scalable past the tribal level. Where has it worked at scale? Why don’t anarchists get together and pick a place to gather and show us how it would work for a few years with a population of a few thousand people? Because anarchists can’t organize anything that big? All the intentional communities, from The Farm, to Israeli kibbutz’s, are sputtering along at best, not exactly virulent. Given the urgency of action, I would rather put my faith in the improvability of public administration.

Olek

While they are at it let them fix up the destruction they cause when their testosterone flairs up at anti trump protests.I’m sure shop owners would appreciate it.

Atom

Do American’s pay road tax ?

lordpeckerwoodfive

GAS TAX – “supposed” to be used to maintain roads

Be A Freeman

Lol, oregon even has a special gas tax, and extra laws – you can’t pump your own gas, you must have the attendant do it for you.